Trump Devises New $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

Summary

Bloomberg immigration reporter Alicia Caldwell explains that the Trump administration is proposing a $103,000 fee for each new H-1B visa candidate, expanding the prior rule to all 85,000 annual lottery winners. The administration estimates the fee would raise $8.8 billion for immigration programs, including ICE enforcement. Caldwell reports that sources on both sides expect the policy to severely limit H-1B usage and potentially shrink the program, with some warning of a broader brain drain.

• The new proposal would charge about $103,000 for each new H-1B candidate.
• The prior version applied only to applicants outside the US; the new rule would cover all 85,000 annual lottery winners.
• The administration estimates $8.8 billion in revenue for immigration programming, including ICE enforcement.
• Sources expect the fee to limit companies that can use H-1B visas and shrink the program significantly.
• Some contacts describe the potential impact as a brain drain policy affecting foreign students.
• The new proposal follows a federal court's June decision striking down an earlier attempt.